The Hound returns, and chops lots of wood. Jaime puts some Freys in their place by taking over their pitiful siege. The Blackfish is unimpressed. Edmure Tully is grateful to not be hanged. Yara tells Theon he needs to man up. Sansa, Jon and Davos start recruiting troops to take back Winterfell. Arya runs afoul of the Waif.

Sam and Gilly find no thrill up on Horn Hill, but they do come away with some valyrian steel. The High Sparrow gains the upper hand, with Tommen sitting in the palm. Exit Hodor, enter Coldhands. Dany appeals to her base by demonstrating her riding skills.

No more Hodor. But wow, there was great Night King & White Walkers vs. Children of the Forest action. Sansa gives Littlefinger a verbal smackdown, then hatches a plan to retake the North with Jon. The Kingsmoot happens. Jorah and Dany share a touching moment.

I'm afraid there's a drop in the audio quality of this one, but it's still listenable. Lots to talk about. Jon Snow doesn't even step foot out of Castle Black before Sansa arrives to pull him back in. Brienne tells Melisandre and Ser Davos of Stannis' fate. Margaery pays Loras a visit, who is not faring well in his cell. Cersei and Jaime come to terms with Lady Olenna and Ser Kevan. Ramsay pulls off another despicable act, and that's a wrap on Osha. Theon gets a chilly homecoming.

Jon finds a cosmic loophole to get out of his oath to the Night's Watch. Melisandre finds a new "Prince who was promised" to obsess over. Ser Allister and Ollie find the end of a rope. Tommen finds resolve to face the High Sparrow, then quickly gets spun around again. Bran travels back to the Tower of Joy with the ghost of Christmas Past and witnesses an historic skirmish. Sam finds a much-needed puke bucket.

Stannis does something unspeakably terrible. Things come to a head in Meereen at the opening of the fighting pits. Prince Doran appears to accommodate Jaime and chastise Ellaria. Jon returns to the wall with the wildlings but is greeted coldly by his brothers. And in Braavos a girl defies her orders when she spies Ser Maryn Trant.

The Crow King and the wildlings face off against the army of the dead in spectacular fashion at Hardhome. We witness Valyrian steel in action, see a Giant tearing up zombies left and right, and meet the Night King. Elsewhere Sansa learns from Reek that Bran and Rickon live. Cersei is not enjoying her stay in a dank cell. Tyrion and Danerys have a nice chat over some wine, while Ser Jorah is cast out once again. Meanwhile, in Braavos, a girl becomes an oyster shucker.